And little Tom the mother's boy:
All their pleasure is, content,
And care, to pay their yearly rent.

Joan can call by name her cows

And deck her windows with green boughs:
She can wreaths and tutties make,
And trim with plums a bridal cake.
Jack knows what brings gain or loss,
And his long flail can stoutly toss :
Makes the hedge which others break,
And ever thinks what he doth speak.

Now, you courtly dames and knights,
That study only strange delights,
Though you scorn the homespun gray,
And revel in your rich array;
Though your tongues dissemble deep
And can your heads from danger keep;
Yet, for all your pomp and train,
Securer lives the silly swain!

BEN JONSON

1573?-1637

SONG - TO CELIA

[From The Forest]

DRINK to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,

And I'll not look for wine.

The thirst that from the soul doth rise

Doth ask a drink divine;

But might I of Jove's nectar sup,
I would not change for thine.

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,

Not so much honouring thee
As giving it a hope, that there

It could not withered be;
But thou thereon didst only breathe

And sent'st it back to me;

Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,
Not of itself, but thee!

HYMN TO DIANA

QUEEN and Huntress, chaste and fair,

Now the sun is laid to sleep,

Seated in thy silver chair,

State in wonted manner keep:
Hesperus entreats thy light,
Goddess excellently bright.

Earth, let not thy envious shade

Dare itself to interpose;
Cynthia's shining orb was made

Heaven to clear when day did close:
Bless us then with wishèd sight,
Goddess excellently bright.

Lay thy bow of pearl apart

And thy crystal-shining quiver;

Give unto the flying hart

Space to breathe, how short soever :
Thou that mak'st a day of night,
Goddess excellently bright.

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PURITAN AND CAVALIER

JOHN DONNE

1573-1631

A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER

WILT Thou forgive that sin where I begun,

Which was my sin, though it were done before? Wilt Thou forgive that sin, through which I run And do run still, though still I do deplore? When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done; For I have more.

Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin, and made my sins their door?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun

A year or two, but wallow'd in, a score?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done;
For I have more.

I have a sin of fear, that when I've spun

My last thread, I shall perish on the shore ; But swear by Thyself, that at my death Thy Son Shall shine, as He shines now and heretofore: And having done that, Thou hast done;

I fear no more.

ON THE SACRAMENT

He was the Word that spake it;
He took the bread and brake it;
And what that Word did make it
I do believe and take it.

ROBERT HERRICK

1591-1674

THE ARGUMENT OF THE HESPERIDES

I SING of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers,
Of April, May, of June and July flowers;

I sing of May-poles, hock-carts, wassails, wakes,
Of bridegrooms, brides and of their bridal cakes;
I write of youth, of love, and have access
By these to sing of cleanly wantonness;
I sing of dews, of rains, and piece by piece
Of balm, of oil, of spice and ambergris;
I sing of times trans-shifting, and I write
How roses first came red and lilies white;
I write of groves, of twilights, and I sing
The court of Mab, and of the fairy king;
I write of hell; I sing (and ever shall)
Of heaven, and hope to have it after all.

TO DAFFODILS

FAIR Daffodils, we weep to see

You haste away so soon;

As yet the early-rising sun
Has not attained his noon.

Stay, stay,

Until the hasting day

Has run

But to the even-song!

And, having prayed together, we
Will go with you along.

We have short time to stay, as you,

We have as short a spring;

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